Can we? Should we? A Spring 2009 PTR - New 5/6 - The TR has begun!

[DisMomAmy]

It won't be much longer now!

Have you heard any reports yet on how crowded F! is now that they are only showing it a couple times a week?

I've heard that it's very crowded at DHS on F! nights.
Here's why I chose Thursday night rather than Wednesday night - First, it will be nice to have the other family there to keep the kids entertained while we wait. Second and most important, MK will be having an EMH morning AND showing Spectro that night - right now Sunday (before we arrive) and Thursday are the only nights scheduled for Spectro that week - I'm sure there will be some that weekend but the May hours aren't out yet (just in case you hadn't heard that yet...). I'm hoping that the EMH/Spectro combo will pull some of the crowds away from DHS. I'm sure that would be a great night to be at Epcot. We'll keep that in mind if we have to flee DHS...

I started a thread on the Theme Park board with this question - will the EMH/Spectro combo reduce the crowds at DHS and F!?

I'm still up in the air about it - I'd much rather eat at 50s PTC than at Mama Melrose's, but I'm afraid that if we don't do the FDP we'll be out of luck...

Our second option for F! is Sunday night, May 3rd - which will be an EMH night at MK and probably a Spectro night - plus people LOVE to spend their first day at MK. If it doesn't work out for Thursday, we might do it Sunday. I am a bit worried about it though...

 

[mousescrapper]

Hi Amy,

sorry about and not being there in your time of NEED!

As I reading through the 1st post, I was thinking wait Amy NO MK morning... so glad you noticed that too and have that part figured out. After reading the last post I feel like this that's alot of figuring out huh? this day that day 1 table 2 tables...so on.

But for the most part I like your "scheduled flexibility" that's a phrase worth penning....

Anyways, as far as F! I have never seen it, but your reasoning sounds pretty good to me. Now it is in our plans for March to tour DHS all in one day w/ an extensive in park break or back at CSR and stay on for F! we are not doing the "reserved" seating w/ a dinner package. I'm just keeping my fingers and toes crossed! We'll be seeing it on a Sunday night I'll have to check what EMH is going on elsewhere, but it's at 8:30 pm that night. My plan as of now is to enter the seating area 45 minutes to an hour before, we some desserts from our dinner and some games (brought from home, tbd) hoping this will entertain the 3 older ones and we'll probably pace w/ Margaret. I'll let you know how it goes when we get back....

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Amy,

sorry about and not being there in your time of NEED!

If my darn computer hadn't broken I would have been happy to give you more notice about my impending crisis.

As I reading through the 1st post, I was thinking wait Amy NO MK morning... so glad you noticed that too and have that part figured out. After reading the last post I feel like this that's alot of figuring out huh? this day that day 1 table 2 tables...so on.

Pretty bad huh?

But for the most part I like your "scheduled flexibility" that's a phrase worth penning....

I actually called this afternoon and made 3 more ADRs... I'm up to 14...

Anyways, as far as F! I have never seen it, but your reasoning sounds pretty good to me. Now it is in our plans for March to tour DHS all in one day w/ an extensive in park break or back at CSR and stay on for F! we are not doing the "reserved" seating w/ a dinner package. I'm just keeping my fingers and toes crossed! We'll be seeing it on a Sunday night I'll have to check what EMH is going on elsewhere, but it's at 8:30 pm that night. My plan as of now is to enter the seating area 45 minutes to an hour before, we some desserts from our dinner and some games (brought from home, tbd) hoping this will entertain the 3 older ones and we'll probably pace w/ Margaret. I'll let you know how it goes when we get back....

I'll be anxious to hear how you make out. We'll be bringing Alex's little handheld electronic games - you know the kind that just has one game on it - he has solitaire, connect 4, yahtzee, battleship and a few more. We'll rotate them out and carry one or two of them with us everywhere. Hopefully he's still into them in April.

 

[KathyRN137]

I love your ADRs!

A bit of advice for Garden Grill: ask for or wait for a table on the lower level...the view of the revolving scenery is much better!

Also, love the early (5pm) time for Chef Mickey's, but, you may have to have supreme discipline to leave the MK early enough so you have a decent break and still have time to get there before five...

BTW, Did you hear that Liberty Tree Tavern is no longer a character meal?

Congrats! ADRs done ~ that's one step closer!!

Kathy

 

[DisMomAmy]

I love your ADRs!

A bit of advice for Garden Grill: ask for or wait for a table on the lower level...the view of the revolving scenery is much better!

Also, love the early (5pm) time for Chef Mickey's, but, you may have to have supreme discipline to leave the MK early enough so you have a decent break and still have time to get there before five...

BTW, Did you hear that Liberty Tree Tavern is no longer a character meal?

Congrats! ADRs done ~ that's one step closer!!

Kathy

Hi Kathy! I have already noted on my ADR spreadsheet to request a lower level seat at the Garden Grill! I read about your experience and took note!

I know what you mean about Chef Mickey's... but what we might do is visit MK all day and have Chef Mickey's be the end to our day - head back to our room for the night. I have to figure out our plans for illuminations... I have already written up a "plan B" itinerary (and added three new ADRs yesterday afternoon) for the days DBIL is with us. Plan B has us skipping F! and going to Wishes instead.

Yes - Sad that the characters have left LTT. Do you know if it's any good without them?

 

[carissanboys]

Congrats on getting Le Cellier for dinner!!

It all looks good to me.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Congrats on getting Le Cellier for dinner!!

It all looks good to me.

Thanks!! Let's hope I can keep it once I get done "tweeking" my itinerary.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Everyone! I've been trying to keep myself busy for the last couple of days so I won't make any more changes to my itinerary. Wednesday night I did move things around again and came up with Plan C. And I made an ADR at Teppan Edo for our Epcot day when DBIL & family are with us. I'm not sure if we'll keep it - along with most of the other 14 ADRs I've made so far... I'm sure I'll have more changes to report next week after May hours are released.

The kids were home on Wednesday due to yet another snowstorm. We are up to 6 so far.

So what are you all up to this Super Bowl Sunday? DH will be jumping in the Atlantic Ocean! The air temperature will be about 30 degrees and the water will be about 35 degrees. The Penguin Plunge at Hampton Beach benefits the Special Olympics of NH. Tim is part of a team of parents/friends of kids on Alex's Special Olympics swim team. I have a bunch of pictures from last year's plunge that I'll post later today. And I'll be sure to post pictures of this year's plunge, probably on Monday.

Here's a sneak peek:

 

[Charleston Princess]

My body went into the beginning stages of hypothermia just looking at that picture! Brrrrr!

Can't believe the winter everyone has been having so far! It just defies explanation!

 

[carissanboys]

Brrrrrrr! Good luck to your husband! That's awesome that he does that.

We'll be quietly watching the Superbowl at home. Not really into it since the Pats aren't in it. I'll be rooting for the Cardinals!

Btw - got a little somethin' in the mail yesterday. I'll be posting about it soon.

 

[MRYPPNS]

That's awesome that you are doing the Penguin Plunge! Will you being wearing a two-piece? Like ski pants and a parka?????

We loved Teppan Edo when we went B.L. (before Liam!)

 

[DisMomAmy]

My body went into the beginning stages of hypothermia just looking at that picture! Brrrrr!

Can't believe the winter everyone has been having so far! It just defies explanation!

I don't remember exactly what the temperature was last year, but I remember talking about how lucky the plungers were that it was "warm". I'm sure that was probably something in the 40's.

Brrrrrrr! Good luck to your husband! That's awesome that he does that.

We'll be quietly watching the Superbowl at home. Not really into it since the Pats aren't in it. I'll be rooting for the Cardinals!

Btw - got a little somethin' in the mail yesterday. I'll be posting about it soon.

It's too bad about the Pats - I don't think too many people are excited for the Superbowl this year - I don't even know which two teams are playing...

That's awesome that you are doing the Penguin Plunge! Will you being wearing a two-piece? Like ski pants and a parka?????

We loved Teppan Edo when we went B.L. (before Liam!)

Two-piece...ski pants & parka!

I said I was thinking about doing the Penguin Plunge... DH is definitely doing it, but we raised enough money for me to do it too if I want to... but I think I'll probably just get a ticket to be in the closed off area of the beach to be able to take pictures. That's what I did last year.

Tappan Edo looks like it will be expensive (for our non-dining plan companions), but I think it would be a great choice for the 8 of us to do together. Alex & I are both picky - I'm sure I can eat some chicken & rice or something, but I may have to bring a snack along for Alex & get him some chicken nuggets we leave, unless they have some hiding in the kitchen for him... I don't think we would go there by ourselves so this is a good opportunity. As long as the kids don't put their hands where they don't belong...

 

[MRYPPNS]

I said I was thinking about doing the Penguin Plunge... DH is definitely doing it, but we raised enough money for me to do it too if I want to... but I think I'll probably just get a ticket to be in the closed off area of the beach to be able to take pictures. That's what I did last year.

Tappan Edo looks like it will be expensive (for our non-dining plan companions), but I think it would be a great choice for the 8 of us to do together. Alex & I are both picky - I'm sure I can eat some chicken & rice or something, but I may have to bring a snack along for Alex & get him some chicken nuggets we leave, unless they have some hiding in the kitchen for him... I don't think we would go there by ourselves so this is a good opportunity. As long as the kids don't put their hands where they don't belong...

Well the important part is the money raised.....and you don't both need to be frozen.

Don't worry about the boys and the grill.....they would have to get out of their seat in order to touch it.....the corner seat is the furthest from the grill. I'm not a very adventurous eater but I like enough to enjoy my meal there. I think the kids can get tempura chicken and rice.

 

[KathyRN137]

I know what you mean about Chef Mickey's... but what we might do is visit MK all day and have Chef Mickey's be the end to our day - head back to our room for the night.

I like that idea! A "night off" worked out well for us last time....

Kathy

 

[mousescrapper]

Yes - Sad that the characters have left LTT. Do you know if it's any good without them?

I'll let you know. We are dining there for an early lunch on my Mom's b-day. I was bummed abou the no characters, but the menu looked nice and I thought my parents would enjoy the food.

We loved Teppan Edo when we went B.L. (before Liam!)

Ok I just had to say the inital lingo B.L. just made me

 

[DisMomAmy]

Well the important part is the money raised.....and you don't both need to be frozen.

Don't worry about the boys and the grill.....they would have to get out of their seat in order to touch it.....the corner seat is the furthest from the grill. I'm not a very adventurous eater but I like enough to enjoy my meal there. I think the kids can get tempura chicken and rice.

Thanks - I am having awful visions of a trip to the ER with a burnt hand... or Alex trying to jump in and throw knives in the air because he thought it looked funny...

I like that idea! A "night off" worked out well for us last time....

Kathy

We'll need a night off to rest before DH's family joins us the next day! The kids won't want to stop when their big cousins are with us.

I'll let you know. We are dining there for an early lunch on my Mom's b-day. I was bummed abou the no characters, but the menu looked nice and I thought my parents would enjoy the food.

Ok I just had to say the inital lingo B.L. just made me

You'll have to PM or email me a consolidated version of your trip highlights and lowlights before we leave!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Here are some photos from last year's Penguin Plunge:

DH in his luau skirt!! Having a little drink to warm himself up (and getting his courage) before the plunge! The plastic butts have to do with the team name, which I don't want to say because it ties back to Alex's team & our town. (No Alex's team doesn't have anything to do with butts!)

For those of you from NH (Heidi & anyone else local), here is Kevin Skarupa (the chicken) and Mike Haddad (in black on right) from WMUR along with some other guy from a radio station??

Here's our team in the team costume parade:

These are the water rescue guys getting ready:

Everybody lined up to run when they drop the rope:

Here's a drunk lady who broke through the rope and froliced in the water before the plunge actually started:

Here's the first of three groups running to the ocean:

People coming out:

Our team getting ready to head in (unfortunately they were in group 3 last year - a lot of the excitement is gone by then... they'll be in group 1 this year!!):

Our group in the ocean (yes the pink pig lady is one of us - luau themed roasted pig - get it...):

DH on his way to the heated tents:

 

[DisMomAmy]

Hi Everyone!! DH made is through the Penguin Plunge yesterday without freezing off any body parts. I have a couple pictures to post later today - I didn't get very many good ones - I was a little too far away, so I was just clicking away at the camera. I got one of DH without realizing it that you'll get a kick out of.

And I got a new toy this weekend - I'll post pictures of that too.

I have to work at an actual client this morning (I usually work from home and log into a client's computer system remotely). I'll be back later to post an update.

Let's hope the groundhog doesn't see his shadow today!! I can't deal with 6 more weeks of this.

 

[carissanboys]

Loved the pictures from the last Penguin Plunge and glad to hear your husband didn't lose any body parts this year.

Can't wait to see the new toy!

 

[Charleston Princess]

So looking forward to the photos of the new toy and the Penguin Plunge!